Child s play-table



E. G. THOMAS.

CHILDS PLAY TABLE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 2a, 1918.

Patnted July 8 1919.'

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

EDWARD G. THOMAS, OF TOLEDO, OHIO.

CHILIDS PLAY-TABLE.

Application filed February 28, 1918.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD G. TnoMAs, of Toledo, county of Lucas, State of Ohio, have invented and produced certain new and useful Improvements in Childrens Play-Tables, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof.

My invention consists of a removable apron and certain attachments or supports which enable it to be held and spread out around a child seated in a chair so as to serve for a play table of area suflicient to prevent the dropping of toys or food upon the floor. At a certain age the-tendency of a child to drop its toys upon the floor becomes very annoying, since the constant presence of an attendant is necessary to keep the child supplied with something to divert and amuse it. My play table provides a means for retaining the toys within the childs reach, while if used while the child is learning to feed himself, a great deal of the damage now done to rugs and other floor covering by the food spilled by the child will be avoided.

The invention is illustrated by the drawings which accompany and form part of this specification. Figure 1 is an isometric view showing the play table spread out for use, a part being torn away to permit showing details of construction. Fig. 2 is an isometric view showing the table surface removed and the supporting arms which hold up the table surface when in use folded downward against the legs of the chair. Fig. 3 is a plan and Fig. 4 a side elevation in partial section of a bracket to which the supporting arms are pivoted illustrating the method of attaching the bracket to the chair seat. Fig. 5 is a section of the bracket along the line A-B, showing one of the supporting arms hinged in place for holding up and stretching the table surface and also indicating the position which the arm takes when allowed to drop into a non operative position. i

The device consists of a bracket, 1, arranged to be secured to the seat of a chair by clips 2 which pass through slots 3 in the bracket 1 and which may therefore be adjusted to Specification of Letters Eatent.

Patented July 8, 1919.

Serial No. 219,711.

approach or recede from one another, thus fitting various widths of chair seats. At each end of bracket 1 are two vertical slots 4 at approximate angles of 15 to the center line of bracket 1 and therefore at about a right angle to one another. In each of the slots t is pivoted an arm 5, 6, 7, or 8 the pivotal points being at the lower end of the slots 4. The shape of the arms 5, 6, &c., is such that when raised to an appropriate position as illustrated in Fig. 5, they come into contact with the upper part of the slots 4 which thus become stops resisting further motion, serving to locate the free ends of the arms at a desired elevation. When the arms are thus raised to their upper extreme positions, a rectangular apron 9 of woven fabric, leather, oilcloth or other flexible material is placed in operative relation to the arms by inserting the arms in openings 10 at. the corners of the apron. The apron will then be supported'by the arms 5, 6, 7 and 8 and by suitably proportioning the dimensions of apron 9 it will exert an inward strain on the arms so that the apron 9 will be stretched tightly. In order that the apron may not slip down the arms 5, 6, 7 and 8 flanges 11 are secured to the arms, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, or pins 12 may be placed in holes in the arms as is shown in Fig. 5.

At the side of the apron next to the chair back an opening 13 is cut to permit the apron to extend more or less completely around the body of the child and a belt 14 is sewn to the edge of the opening, its ends forming straps which may be tied around the body or preferably around the back of the chair, then forming a safety strap. Straps 15 and 16 are sewn to the apron on either side of opening 18 and are united by a hook 17 fastened to strap 15 and arranged to engage holes in strap 16, thus enabling the strain of the apron on the ends of the ar1ns5, 6, 7 and 8 to be adjusted.

WVhen it is not desired to use the apron it is removed by lifting it, one corner at a time from the supporting arms which are allowed to swing downward from their pivots in the lower ends of slots. The arms will then hang in a position substantially parallel and adjacent to the front legs of the chair and in order that they will not rattle against the chair as it is moved about, retaining means is provided consisting of hooks 20 and 21 united by spring This retaining device, which may be conveniently hooked on the rounds of the chair when the apron is in use, as is shown in Fig. 1, is hooked around the arms 5, 6, 7 and 8 drawing them firmly against the chair and preventing them from swinging about, as is shown in Fig. 2.

A convenient clip for attaching the bracket 1 to the chair is illustrated in Fig. 4 and consists of a hook 23, engaging the up per surface of chair seat 24, and provided with a nut 25 and washer 26, by means of which bracket 1 may be firmly drawn against the bottom of chair seat 24.

The flexible surface afforded by the apron is especially desirable in avoiding the destruction of toys by the pounding of the child and is fitting the body of the child so that nothing can readily be dropped between the apron and the child.

Other advantages arise from its lightness, its compactness when not in use, the possibility of readily cleaning the table surface by washing or otherwise wvhen removed from the chair, and the low cost of the device.

It will be understood that changes in the form, proportion and details of construction may be made without departing from the essence of my invention. I therefore claim 1. In a childs play table the combination of a chair, a bracket attached thereto, supporting arms pivotally connected to said bracket means for preventing said arms from being raised above a predetermined angle, and a flexible apron joining the ends of said arms.

2. In a childs play table the combination of a chair, a bracket secured thereto, a rectangular flexible apron, attaching means at the corners of said apron, supporting arms pivotally secured to said bracket and adapted to engage said attaching means and support said apron, and means for preventing said supporting arms from being raised above a predetermined angle.

3. In a childs play table the combination of a chair, an apron and supporting arms pivotally connected to said chair and adapted to engage and support said apron in a stretched condition above the seat of said chair.

4. In a childs play table the combination of a chair, a bracket secured thereto, a fabric forming a table surface and supporting members pivotally attached to said bracket and engaging the corners of said fabric to support it in a stretched condition above the seat of said chair.

5. In a childs play table the combination of a chair, a bracket secured thereto having vertical divergent slots adjacent its ends, arms pivoted within said slots, means for preventing said arms from being raised above a predetermined angle, and a flexible apron supported by said arms.

6. In a childs play table the combination of a chair, a bracket secured thereto having vertical divergent slots adjacent its ends, arms pivoted within the slots, a flexible apron supported thereby and means for retaining said arms against motion when in a raised position.

7. In a childs play table the combination of a chair, a bracket secured thereto, supporting arms pivotally connected to said bracket, means for preventing said arms from being raised above a predetermined angle, a rectangular apron arranged to engage and be supported by said arms and having an opening for the body of a child and means for attaching said apron thereto.

8. In a childs play table the combination of a chair, arms pivotally secured to said chair so as to rotate in planes at approximately from the center line of said chair and an apron adapted to engage the free ends of said arms and retain them in a raised position. I

9. In a childs play table the combination of a chair, a bracket secured thereto,,a rectangular apron and folding supporting means for said apron pivotally secured to the seat of said chair.

10. In a childs play table the combination of a chair, a bracket secured thereto, a substantially rectangular apron, having an opening on one side adapted to receive the body of a child, means pivotally mounted in said bracket for supporting said. apron and devices for securing the child to said chair.

11. In a childs play table the combination ,Of a chair, a bracket secured to the seat thereof, arms pivotally secured to said bracket and means for preventing their motion when in a lowered position.

12. In a childs play table the combination of a chair, a bracket secured to the seat thereof, arms pivotally mounted in said bracket and elastic means for restraining said arms against motion when in a lowered position.

13. In a childs play table the combination of a chair, a bracket secured thereto at the level of the seat thereof, arms pivotally mounted in said bracket, retaining hooks and a tension spring connecting said hooks.

14. In a childs play table the combination of a chair, a bracket, horizontally adjustable means for securing said bracket to said chair, supporting arms pivotally mounted in said bracket and a flexible apron joining the free ends of said arms.

15. In a childs play table the combination In testimony whereof I have signed my of a chair, a bracket having longitudinally name to this specification in the presence of ilotted holes, clips pfassing ghrcguglig said a subscribing witness.

oles and adapted to asten t e rac et to said chair, supporting arms pivotally mount- EDWARD THOMAS ed in said bracket and a flexible apron join- Witness: ing the free ends of said arms. MABEL O. THOMAS.

Gopies 01' this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, .D. G. 

